Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Numbers, Chapter 19במדבר 19

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Numbers 19 legislates the red heifer (פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה): a flawless, unyoked cow slaughtered outside the camp and wholly burned, its ashes mixed with water into מֵי נִדָּה — Israel's standing remedy for corpse-defilement. The chapter's famous paradox: those who administer the rite become unclean, while the ashes purify the defiled.

Translation & textual notes

The MT of Numbers 19 is textually stable; 4QNumb preserves portions of the chapter with no significant divergence from the Leningrad Codex, and the Samaritan Pentateuch and LXX (which renders מֵי נִדָּה as hydōr rhantismou, 'water of sprinkling') differ only in minor orthographic and translational choices. The chief crux is lexical: נִדָּה ordinarily denotes menstrual impurity or abhorrence, yet in the fixed phrase מֵי נִדָּה it seems to carry a second, homonymous sense tied to sprinkling/tossing (cf. Aramaic נדא) — so the term hovers, likely deliberately, between 'water for impurity' and 'water of sprinkling.' Rabbinic tradition (b. Yoma 67b; Numbers Rabbah 19) canonized the red heifer as the paradigm חֻקָּה, a decree with no accessible rationale, traditionally said to have confounded even Solomon's wisdom. The purifier-defiles paradox (v. 21; cf. vv. 7-10) became a byword in later Jewish and Christian exegesis for the sacrificial system's logic of transferred rather than eliminated impurity. Source-critically, the rite's archaic features — extra-camp slaughter, total incineration including dung, and a reusable rather than one-time remedy — have led critics to see an old apotropaic tradition absorbed into the Priestly corpus.

1

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר

And YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Narrative frame / speech introductionasyndeton
Opens the unit with the standard divine-speech formula, addressed jointly to Moses and Aaron — unusual, since most legislation in Numbers goes to Moses alone; it signals that the rite to follow, administered through the priest Eleazar, is priestly business as much as covenantal law.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
וַיְדַבֵּ֣רand he spokewayyiqtol (Piel) 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (main clause), wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the chapter's opening speech-formulaדִּבֶּר (H1696) Piel 'to speak'; the recurring formula introducing divine legislation to Moses (and here also Aaron).
יְהוָ֔הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיְדַבֵּריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God; subject of the speech-verb throughout the legislative sections of Numbers.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; introduces the recipient(s) of divine speech.
מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of preposition אֶל (first addressee)מֹשֶׁה (H4872), Israel's mediator-lawgiver; first-named addressee.
וְאֶֽלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional phrase (second addressee)וְ joins a second addressee; אֶל (H413) 'to, toward' repeats before אַהֲרֹן.
אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaronproper noun · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Object of preposition אֶל (second addressee)אַהֲרֹן (H175), Moses' brother and high priest; his inclusion anticipates the priestly officiant Eleazar (v. 3), since the red-heifer rite falls to the priestly line.
לֵאמֹֽרsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitival complement introducing direct speech→ Infinitive construct: introduces the cited speech that followsאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the formulaic לֵאמֹר regularly opens divine speech reported in direct discourse.
2

זֹ֚את חֻקַּ֣ת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֣ר אֶל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֣וּ אֵלֶיךָ֩ פָרָ֨ה אֲדֻמָּ֜ה תְּמִימָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵֽין בָּהּ֙ מ֔וּם אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא עָלָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ עֹֽל

This is the statute of the law that YHWH commanded, saying: Speak to the Israelites, that they bring you a red heifer, unblemished, in which there is no defect, and on which no yoke has come.

Statute heading + embedded commandasyndeton
Introduces the chapter as a חֻקָּה ('statute') — the rabbinic paradigm-case of a law given without stated rationale — then cites YHWH's command verbatim, specifying the victim: female, red, flawless, never yoked.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
זֹ֚אתthisdemonstrative pron fs · זֹאת (H2063)Fronted predicate/subject (casus pendens) resumed by חֻקַּתזֹאת (H2063) 'this' (fem., referring to חֻקָּה); fronted demonstrative opening the statute, echoed at v. 14 introducing the corpse-tent law.
חֻקַּ֣תthe statute ofN c(b) sg constr · חֻקָּה (H2708)Predicate noun in construct chain with הַתּוֹרָהחֻקָּה (H2708) 'statute, prescribed limit', from חָקַק 'to inscribe, decree'; in rabbinic tradition ḥoq denotes a law without a rationally evident reason — the paradigm case being precisely this red-heifer rite.
הַתּוֹרָ֔הthe lawart + N f sg abs · תּוֹרָה (H8451)Genitive complement of חֻקַּת (construct chain)תּוֹרָה (H8451) 'instruction, law', from יָרָה 'to teach, direct'; the construct-genitive relation makes this statute constitutive torah, authoritative instruction.
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clause (level 1)אֲשֶׁר (H834), the invariable relative particle; launches the clause identifying the statute as YHWH's own command.
צִוָּ֥הhe commandedPiel perf 3ms · צִוָּה (H6680)Predicate verb of relative clause→ Perfective: a completed act of command establishing the statute's standing authorityצִוָּה (H6680) Piel 'to command, charge'; regularly used of divine legislative commands mediated through Moses.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of צִוָּהיְהוָה (H3068); the statute's ultimate authority.
לֵאמֹ֑רsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitival complement introducing the cited command→ Infinitive construct: introduces direct speechאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; opens the actual content of YHWH's command.
דַּבֵּ֣רspeak!Piel impv 2ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause of the command)→ Volitional: direct command to Moses to relay the statuteדִּבֶּר (H1696) Piel 'to speak'; imperative launching the actual instruction to the Israelites.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct head of the addressee phraseבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct plural בְּנֵי in the standing idiom בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל 'Israelites'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement (construct chain)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the nation, addressee of the statute.
וְיִקְח֣וּand let them takeconj וְ + Qal impf 3mp · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb, jussive-nuanced continuation of the command→ Yiqtol: volitional/instructional — 'they are to take'לָקַח (H3947) Qal 'to take'; the community's charge to procure the animal.
אֵלֶיךָ֩to youprep אֶל + suffix 2ms · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect object (Moses as recipient)אֶל (H413) with 2ms suffix; the heifer is brought specifically to Moses, who then hands off the rite to Eleazar (v. 3).
פָרָ֨הa heiferN f sg abs · פָּרָה (H6510)Direct object of וְיִקְחוּפָּרָה (H6510) 'cow, heifer'; head noun of the chapter's central object, modified by 'red', 'flawless', 'unyoked'.
אֲדֻמָּ֜הredadj f sg abs · אָדֹם (H122)Attributive adjective modifying פָרָהאָדֹם (H122) 'red'; gives the rite its name (פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה) — a rare, costly, unmottled specimen (rabbinic tradition required at least two black or white hairs to disqualify).
תְּמִימָ֗הunblemishedadj f sg abs · תָּמִים (H8549)Attributive adjective modifying פָרָהתָּמִים (H8549) 'complete, whole, without blemish', from תָּמַם 'to be complete'; the sacrificial ideal, also used of Noah's and Abraham's moral 'blamelessness'.
אֲשֶׁ֤רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clause (level 1)אֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the negated-existential clause specifying absence of blemish.
אֵֽיןthere is notnegative existential particle · אַיִן (H369)Predicator of non-existenceאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'; negates existence of a blemish in her.
בָּהּ֙in herprep בְּ + suffix 3fs · בְּPrepositional complement of אֵין (locative)בְּ 'in, on' with 3fs suffix referring to the heifer.
מ֔וּםblemishN m sg abs · מוּם (H3971)Subject of the existential clause (אֵין ... מוּם)מוּם (H3971) 'blemish, defect'; the standard term for physical disqualification in sacrificial law (cf. Lev 22).
אֲשֶׁ֛רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clause (level 1)אֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the second qualifying clause, on the yoke.
לֹאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the verb עָלָהלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
עָלָ֥הhas come upQal perf 3ms · עָלָה (H5927)Predicate verb of relative clause→ Perfective: states as accomplished fact — a yoke has never come upon herעָלָה (H5927) Qal 'to go up, come upon'; idiomatically of a yoke 'coming upon' an animal's neck, i.e. being put to work.
עָלֶ֖יהָupon herprep עַל + suffix 3fs · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative complement of עָלָהעַל (H5921) 'upon' with 3fs suffix, referring to the heifer's neck.
עֹֽלa yokeN m sg abs · עֹל (H5923)Subject of עָלָהעֹל (H5923) 'yoke'; the heifer must never have been put to ordinary labor — total unworked status, like the never-yoked heifer/never-ridden colt of other rites (cf. Deut 21:3; 1 Sam 6:7).
3

וּנְתַתֶּ֣ם אֹתָ֔הּ אֶל אֶלְעָזָ֖ר הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְהוֹצִ֤יא אֹתָהּ֙ אֶל מִח֣וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְשָׁחַ֥ט אֹתָ֖הּ לְפָנָֽיו

And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him.

Sequential instruction (weqatal chain)וְ
Three weqatal verbs (give, bring out, slaughter) chain the procedure: the heifer passes from the people to the priest, from inside the camp to outside it, and from living animal to slaughtered victim — all before the rite's fire begins in v. 5.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וּנְתַתֶּ֣םand you shall giveconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing the sequence of instructions→ Weqatal: sequential instruction continuing the command chainנָתַן (H5414) Qal 'to give, hand over'; here 'deliver' the heifer to Eleazar.
אֹתָ֔הּher [obj]obj marker + suffix 3fs · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker + suffix (direct object, the heifer)אֵת (H853) nota accusativi with 3fs suffix, resuming פָרָה as the definite direct object.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the recipientאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
אֶלְעָזָ֖רEleazarproper noun · אֶלְעָזָר (H499)Object of preposition אֶל (recipient)אֶלְעָזָר (H499) 'God has helped'; Aaron's son, the officiating priest — notably not Aaron the high priest himself, perhaps to spare him corpse-adjacent impurity.
הַכֹּהֵ֑ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Apposition to אֶלְעָזָרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; identifies Eleazar's office as the reason he officiates.
וְהוֹצִ֤יאand he shall bring outconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing instructions→ Weqatal: sequential instruction — the rite's defining spatial moveיָצָא (H3318) Hiphil (causative) 'to bring out'; Eleazar leads the heifer outside the camp.
אֹתָהּ֙her [obj]obj marker + suffix 3fs · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker + suffix (direct object of וְהוֹצִיא)אֵת (H853) with 3fs suffix, again the heifer.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, part of the compound 'outside of' idiomאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; here paired with מִחוּץ ('outside') to form the goal of motion.
מִח֣וּץoutsideprep מִן + N m sg abs · חוּץ (H2351)Prepositional phrase, spatial (goal)חוּץ (H2351) 'outside, street'; with prep מִן forms the idiom מִחוּץ לְ 'outside of' — the camp boundary is theologically loaded (cf. the scapegoat, the ash-heap, executions).
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הthe campprep לְ + art + N c(b) sg abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Object of the compound preposition מִחוּץ לְמַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp'; the ordered wilderness encampment whose sanctity the rite protects by locating death-adjacent slaughter beyond its bounds.
וְשָׁחַ֥טand he shall slaughterconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · שָׁחַט (H7819)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing instructions→ Weqatal: sequential instruction — the act of slaughterשָׁחַט (H7819) Qal 'to slaughter'; the standard verb for ritual slaughter of sacrificial animals.
אֹתָ֖הּher [obj]obj marker + suffix 3fs · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker + suffix (direct object of וְשָׁחַט)אֵת (H853) with 3fs suffix; the heifer as the one slaughtered.
לְפָנָֽיוbefore himprep לְ + N c(b) pl constr + suffix 3ms · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase, locative (in Eleazar's presence)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; idiom לִפְנֵי 'before, in the presence of' with 3ms suffix — the slaughter is supervised/witnessed by Eleazar though a layperson may perform the actual killing.
4

וְלָקַ֞ח אֶלְעָזָ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מִדָּמָ֖הּ בְּאֶצְבָּע֑וֹ וְהִזָּ֞ה אֶל נֹ֨כַח פְּנֵ֧י אֹֽהֶל מוֹעֵ֛ד מִדָּמָ֖הּ שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים

And Eleazar the priest shall take some of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle it toward the front of the Tent of Meeting seven times.

Sequential instruction (weqatal chain, continued)וְ
The blood rite proper: unlike ordinary purification offerings brought to the altar, this blood is sprinkled from a distance, outside the camp, oriented toward the sanctuary — the heifer's whole procedure keeps it apart from, yet in relation to, the holy place.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְלָקַ֞חand he shall takeconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing instructions→ Weqatal: sequential instructionלָקַח (H3947) Qal 'to take'; Eleazar now takes some of the blood for the sprinkling rite.
אֶלְעָזָ֧רEleazarproper noun · אֶלְעָזָר (H499)Subject of וְלָקַחאֶלְעָזָר (H499); the officiating priest, now performing the blood rite himself.
הַכֹּהֵ֛ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Apposition to אֶלְעָזָרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'.
מִדָּמָ֖הּsome of her bloodprep מִן + N m sg constr + suffix 3fs · דָּם (H1818)Direct object (partitive) of וְלָקַחדָּם (H1818) 'blood'; partitive מִן ('some of') — only a portion is taken for sprinkling, the rest burned with the carcass (v. 5).
בְּאֶצְבָּע֑וֹwith his fingerprep בְּ + N f sg constr + suffix 3ms · אֶצְבַּע (H676)Instrumental prepositional phraseאֶצְבַּע (H676) 'finger'; the instrument of sprinkling, as in the purification rites of Leviticus (cf. Lev 4; 16) — direct priestly contact with the blood.
וְהִזָּ֞הand he shall sprinkleconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · נָזָה (H5137)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing instructions→ Weqatal: sequential instruction — the rite's central ritual gestureנָזָה (H5137) Hiphil 'to sprinkle, spatter'; the technical verb for blood-sprinkling in purification rites, repeated at vv. 18-19, 21 for the water of impurity.
אֶלtowardprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phrase (paired with נֹכַח)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; directional, toward the sanctuary.
נֹ֨כַחin front ofprep · נֹכַח (H5227)Prepositional phrase, directional (paired with אֶל)נֹכַח (H5227) 'in front of, opposite'; compounds with אֶל to specify precise orientation — the blood is sprinkled toward, not upon, the Tent.
פְּנֵ֧יthe face ofN c(b) pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Construct chain, object of נֹכַחפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; construct 'the front of' the Tent of Meeting.
אֹֽהֶלthe tent ofN m sg constr · אֹהֶל (H168)Construct chain (with מוֹעֵד)אֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; construct with מוֹעֵד forming the standing phrase 'Tent of Meeting'.
מוֹעֵ֛דmeetingN m sg abs · מוֹעֵד (H4150)Genitive complement completing אֹהֶל מוֹעֵדמוֹעֵד (H4150) 'appointed time/place, meeting'; אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד 'Tent of Meeting' — notably the rite orients toward it even though performed outside the camp, unlike ordinary sacrifices brought to its entrance.
מִדָּמָ֖הּsome of her bloodprep מִן + N m sg constr + suffix 3fs · דָּם (H1818)Direct object (partitive), resumed for the sevenfold sprinklingדָּם (H1818) 'blood', partitive again — the sevenfold sprinkling that follows uses this same blood.
שֶׁ֥בַעsevencardinal number f sg abs · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Numeral modifying פְּעָמִים (adverbial accusative of repetition)שֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven'; the sacred number of completeness, counting the sprinklings — echoes the sevenfold sprinklings of Lev 4:6; 16:14.
פְּעָמִֽיםtimesN f pl abs · פַּעַם (H6471)Adverbial accusative of repetitionפַּעַם (H6471) 'time, occurrence'; plural completing the idiom שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים 'seven times'.
5

וְשָׂרַ֥ף אֶת הַפָּרָ֖ה לְעֵינָ֑יו אֶת עֹרָ֤הּ וְאֶת בְּשָׂרָהּ֙ וְאֶת דָּמָ֔הּ עַל פִּרְשָׁ֖הּ יִשְׂרֹֽף

And he shall burn the heifer before his eyes; he shall burn her hide, her flesh, and her blood, together with her dung.

Total consumption by fireasyndeton
The most sweeping burning-formula in the sacrificial system: hide, flesh, blood, and dung together — nothing is reserved, nothing treated as ordinary meat or refuse. The heifer is wholly consumed before its ashes can become a purifying agent.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וְשָׂרַ֥ףand he shall burnconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · שָׂרַף (H8313)Predicate verb, weqatal introducing the burning→ Weqatal: sequential instruction — the rite's climactic actשָׂרַף (H8313) Qal 'to burn'; unlike a normal sacrifice consumed partly on the altar, the ENTIRE heifer — hide and dung included — is burned outside, the chapter's defining departure from ordinary sacrificial procedure.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853) nota accusativi marking the definite direct object; untranslated in English.
הַפָּרָ֖הthe heiferart + N f sg abs · פָּרָה (H6510)Direct object of וְשָׂרַףפָּרָה (H6510) 'heifer', now definite (with article), referring back to the animal introduced in v. 2.
לְעֵינָ֑יוbefore his eyesprep לְ + N c(b) dual constr + suffix 3ms · עַיִן (H5869)Prepositional phrase, locative (in Eleazar's sight)עַיִן (H5869) 'eye', dual construct with 3ms suffix in the idiom לְעֵינֵי 'in the sight of' — Eleazar witnesses/oversees rather than personally executing every step.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker, first item of the threefold listאֵת (H853), marking the first item of the threefold list — hide, flesh, blood — all consigned to the fire.
עֹרָ֤הּher hideN m sg constr + suffix 3fs · עוֹר (H5785)Direct object of יִשְׂרֹף (first item)עוֹר (H5785) 'skin, hide'; ordinarily a sin offering's hide is disposed of separately (cf. Lev 4:11-12; 16:27), but here it is burned WITH the animal, underscoring total destruction.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker, second item of the listוְ + אֵת (H853), the second item of the threefold list.
בְּשָׂרָהּ֙her fleshN m sg constr + suffix 3fs · בָּשָׂר (H1320)Direct object of יִשְׂרֹף (second item)בָּשָׂר (H1320) 'flesh, meat'; second item of the total-burning list.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker, third item of the listוְ + אֵת (H853), the third item of the threefold list.
דָּמָ֔הּher bloodN m sg constr + suffix 3fs · דָּם (H1818)Direct object of יִשְׂרֹף (third item)דָּם (H1818) 'blood'; the remaining, unsprinkled blood is also burned — nothing is reserved separately, unlike normal sin-offering procedure where blood is poured at the altar base.
עַלalong withprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, associativeעַל (H5921) here associative 'together with', governing פִּרְשָׁהּ.
פִּרְשָׁ֖הּher dungN m sg constr + suffix 3fs · פֶּרֶשׁ (H6569)Object of עַל (associative)פֶּרֶשׁ (H6569) 'dung, intestinal contents'; its inclusion is the starkest sign of total consumption — even the animal's refuse goes into the fire, nothing held back.
יִשְׂרֹֽףhe shall burnQal impf 3ms · שָׂרַף (H8313)Predicate verb, resumptive restatement of וְשָׂרַף closing the verse→ Yiqtol: resumptive, emphasizing completeness of the command after the intervening object listשָׂרַף (H8313) Qal 'to burn'; the verb frames the verse (וְשָׂרַף…יִשְׂרֹף), an inclusio stressing that ALL the listed parts, without exception, go into the fire.
6

וְלָקַ֣ח הַכֹּהֵ֗ן עֵ֥ץ אֶ֛רֶז וְאֵז֖וֹב וּשְׁנִ֣י תוֹלָ֑עַת וְהִשְׁלִ֕יךְ אֶל תּ֖וֹךְ שְׂרֵפַ֥ת הַפָּרָֽה

And the priest shall take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet material, and throw it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Sequential instruction, additive to the burningוְ
The same triad — cedar, hyssop, scarlet — that purifies the leper (Lev 14) is cast into the heifer's fire, linking this rite to Israel's other great impurity-remedy and hinting that its ashes will function analogously as a purifying agent.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְלָקַ֣חand he shall takeconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing instructions→ Weqatal: sequential instructionלָקַח (H3947) Qal 'to take'; the priest now adds three more substances to the fire.
הַכֹּהֵ֗ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְלָקַחכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; Eleazar again (cf. vv. 3-4), performing this additive rite.
עֵ֥ץwood ofN m sg constr · עֵץ (H6086)Construct head (with אֶרֶז)עֵץ (H6086) 'tree, wood'; construct with אֶרֶז 'cedar'.
אֶ֛רֶזcedarN m sg abs · אֶרֶז (H730)Genitive complement completing עֵץ אֶרֶזאֶרֶז (H730) 'cedar'; a durable, aromatic wood added to the fire alongside hyssop and scarlet, echoing the cleansing kit of Lev 14 (leprosy purification).
וְאֵז֖וֹבand hyssopconj וְ + N m sg abs · אֵזוֹב (H231)Direct object of וְהִשְׁלִיךְ (second item)אֵזוֹב (H231) 'hyssop'; a small bushy plant used throughout Israel's purification rites (Passover blood, Lev 14 leprosy cleansing, here) — its bushiness suits it as a sprinkling instrument (cf. v. 18).
וּשְׁנִ֣יand the crimson ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · שָׁנִי (H8144)Construct head (with תוֹלַעַת)שָׁנִי (H8144) 'scarlet, crimson'; construct with תוֹלַעַת 'worm' in the standing phrase שְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת — the same cedar-hyssop-scarlet triad marks the leprosy-cleansing rite of Lev 14:4, 6, 49-52.
תוֹלָ֑עַתworm-crimsonN f sg abs · תוֹלַעַת (H8438)Genitive complement completing שְׁנִי תוֹלַעַתתוֹלַעַת (H8438) 'worm, crimson-dye insect'; the scale-insect source of scarlet dye — שְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת together denote the dyed material added to the fire.
וְהִשְׁלִ֕יךְand he shall throwconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · שָׁלַךְ (H7993)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing instructions→ Weqatal: sequential instructionשָׁלַךְ (H7993) Hiphil (causative) 'to throw, cast'; the wood, hyssop, and scarlet are tossed directly into the burning heifer.
אֶלintoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, directional (goal of casting)אֶל (H413) 'to, into'; directional, into the fire.
תּ֖וֹךְthe midst ofN m sg constr · תָּוֶךְ (H8432)Construct head (with שְׂרֵפַת)תָּוֶךְ (H8432) 'midst, middle'; construct 'the midst of' — directly into the fire's core.
שְׂרֵפַ֥תthe burning ofN f sg constr · שְׂרֵפָה (H8316)Genitive complement (construct chain with הַפָּרָה)שְׂרֵפָה (H8316) 'burning, conflagration', from שָׂרַף 'to burn' (cf. v. 5); construct 'the burning of the heifer' — the fire consuming her.
הַפָּרָֽהthe heiferart + N f sg abs · פָּרָה (H6510)Genitive complement completing שְׂרֵפַת הַפָּרָהפָּרָה (H6510) 'heifer'; the burning fire itself, into which the wood, hyssop, and scarlet are cast.
7

וְכִבֶּ֨ס בְּגָדָ֜יו הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְרָחַ֤ץ בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ בַּמַּ֔יִם וְאַחַ֖ר יָב֣וֹא אֶל הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וְטָמֵ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן עַד הָעָֽרֶב

And the priest shall wash his garments and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp; and the priest shall be unclean until evening.

Consequence — the purifier is defiledasyndeton
The chapter's paradox surfaces for the first time: Eleazar, who has just performed the rite that will yield the water of purification, is himself rendered ritually unclean by it — an impurity remedied only by ordinary washing and the passage of time, not by the heifer's own ashes.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְכִבֶּ֨סand he shall washconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כִּבֵּס (H3526)Predicate verb, weqatal beginning the priest's purification→ Weqatal: sequential instruction — post-rite purification beginsכִּבֵּס (H3526) Piel 'to wash, launder' (of clothing); the priest, having handled the burning heifer, must launder before re-entering the camp.
בְּגָדָ֜יוhis garmentsN m pl constr + suffix 3ms · בֶּגֶד (H899)Direct object of וְכִבֶּסבֶּגֶד (H899) 'garment, clothing'; the priest's vestments, rendered impure by proximity to the burning heifer.
הַכֹּהֵ֗ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְכִבֶּסכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; Eleazar, now needing his own purification despite performing the rite — the first hint of the chapter's purifier-defiles paradox.
וְרָחַ֤ץand he shall batheconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · רָחַץ (H7364)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing purification→ Weqatal: sequential instructionרָחַץ (H7364) Qal 'to wash, bathe'; full-body washing, paired with the garment-washing.
בְּשָׂרוֹ֙his bodyN m sg constr + suffix 3ms · בָּשָׂר (H1320)Direct object of וְרָחַץבָּשָׂר (H1320) 'flesh, body'; the priest bathes his whole body, not merely his hands.
בַּמַּ֔יִםin waterprep בְּ + art + N m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Prepositional phrase, instrumental/locativeמַיִם (H4325) 'water'; the ordinary medium of ritual washing.
וְאַחַ֖רand afterwardconj וְ + adverb · אַחַר (H310)Adverbial phrase, temporal (sequencing the next act)אַחַר (H310) 'after, afterward'; marks the priest's return to camp as subsequent to his washing.
יָב֣וֹאhe may comeQal impf 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb (permissive/temporal yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: permissive/temporal — only after washing may he re-enterבּוֹא (H935) Qal 'to come, enter'; re-entry into the camp is conditioned on prior washing.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, goal of motionאֶל (H413) 'to, into'.
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑הthe campart + N c(b) sg abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Object of preposition אֶלמַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp'; the priest may return only after washing.
וְטָמֵ֥אand he shall be uncleanconj וְ + Qal (stative) weqatal 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb, weqatal — the paradox stated→ Weqatal: stative/resultative — despite washing, uncleanness remains until eveningטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; the priest who has just prepared the future purifying agent is himself rendered impure — the chapter's first statement of the purifier-defiles paradox.
הַכֹּהֵ֖ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְטָמֵא (resumed)כֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; Eleazar, unclean until evening despite washing — a ritual status, not a moral failing.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional phrase, temporal terminusעַד (H5704) 'until'; sets the temporal limit of the impurity.
הָעָֽרֶבthe eveningart + N m sg abs · עֶרֶב (H6153)Object of preposition עַד (temporal terminus)עֶרֶב (H6153) 'evening'; the standard terminus for lesser ritual impurities in Israel's purity system — uncleanness expires at sundown.
8

וְהַשֹּׂרֵ֣ף אֹתָ֔הּ יְכַבֵּ֤ס בְּגָדָיו֙ בַּמַּ֔יִם וְרָחַ֥ץ בְּשָׂר֖וֹ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְטָמֵ֖א עַד הָעָֽרֶב

And the one who burns it shall wash his garments in water and bathe his body in water, and he shall be unclean until evening.

Consequence — the paradox extends to a second agentasyndeton
A second person now enters — the burner, distinct from the priest — and undergoes the identical wash-and-wait purification. The paradox is structural, not personal: everyone who handles the rite is defiled by it, regardless of office.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְהַשֹּׂרֵ֣ףand the one who burnsconj וְ + art + Qal ptc msa · שָׂרַף (H8313)Subject (substantival participle) — 'the burner'→ Participle: substantival, denotes the agent who performs the burningשָׂרַף (H8313) Qal active participle 'the one burning'; a figure distinct from the priest Eleazar (vv. 3-7) — apparently a subordinate who tends the actual fire.
אֹתָ֔הּher [obj]obj marker + suffix 3fs · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker + suffix, resuming the burning act as antecedentאֵת (H853) with 3fs suffix; the heifer, referring back to the burning act of v. 5.
יְכַבֵּ֤סhe shall washPiel impf 3ms · כִּבֵּס (H3526)Predicate verb (yiqtol of instruction)→ Yiqtol: instructional/modal — required purification for the burnerכִּבֵּס (H3526) Piel 'to wash, launder'; the burner, like the priest, must launder his garments.
בְּגָדָיו֙his garmentsN m pl constr + suffix 3ms · בֶּגֶד (H899)Direct object of יְכַבֵּסבֶּגֶד (H899) 'garment'; contaminated by handling the burning carcass.
בַּמַּ֔יִםin waterprep בְּ + art + N m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Prepositional phrase, instrumentalמַיִם (H4325) 'water'.
וְרָחַ֥ץand he shall batheconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · רָחַץ (H7364)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing purification→ Weqatal: sequential instructionרָחַץ (H7364) Qal 'to wash, bathe'; full-body washing paired with the garment-washing.
בְּשָׂר֖וֹhis bodyN m sg constr + suffix 3ms · בָּשָׂר (H1320)Direct object of וְרָחַץבָּשָׂר (H1320) 'flesh, body'.
בַּמָּ֑יִםin waterprep בְּ + art + N m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Prepositional phrase, instrumentalמַיִם (H4325) 'water'; repeated, paralleling v. 7's formula for the priest.
וְטָמֵ֖אand he shall be uncleanconj וְ + Qal (stative) weqatal 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb, weqatal — the paradox restated for the burner→ Weqatal: stative/resultativeטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; the burner too contracts impurity from the rite — the paradox is not confined to the priest alone.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional phrase, temporal terminusעַד (H5704) 'until'.
הָעָֽרֶבthe eveningart + N m sg abs · עֶרֶב (H6153)Object of preposition עַדעֶרֶב (H6153) 'evening'; the impurity's terminus, identical to the priest's in v. 7.
9

וְאָסַ֣ף אִ֣ישׁ טָה֗וֹר אֵ֚ת אֵ֣פֶר הַפָּרָ֔ה וְהִנִּ֛יחַ מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה בְּמָק֣וֹם טָה֑וֹר וְ֠הָיְתָה לַעֲדַ֨ת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל לְמִשְׁמֶ֛רֶת לְמֵ֥י נִדָּ֖ה חַטָּ֥את הִֽוא

And a clean man shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the Israelites as a safeguard for the water of impurity — it is a purification offering.

Purpose statement — the ashes' standing functionasyndeton
The pivot of the whole chapter: what was total destruction (vv. 5-6) yields a reusable, perpetually stored substance. The term מֵי נִדָּה ('water of impurity/lustration') is deliberately double-edged, and חַטָּאת classifies the entire provision as an ongoing purification remedy rather than a one-time sacrifice.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וְאָסַ֣ףand he shall gatherconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · אָסַף (H622)Predicate verb, weqatal introducing the ash-gathering→ Weqatal: sequential instruction — the ashes now become the focusאָסַף (H622) Qal 'to gather, collect'; the pivotal act that produces the reusable purifying substance from the otherwise-total destruction of vv. 5-6.
אִ֣ישׁa manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject of וְאָסַףאִישׁ (H376) 'man'; an unnamed third figure — neither priest nor burner — introduced solely to collect the ashes.
טָה֗וֹרcleanadj m sg abs · טָהוֹר (H2889)Attributive adjective modifying אִישׁטָהוֹר (H2889) 'clean, pure'; the gatherer must himself be ritually clean to perform this act — contrast his own resulting impurity in v. 10, another turn of the paradox.
אֵ֚ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853) nota accusativi marking the definite direct object.
אֵ֣פֶרthe ashes ofN m sg constr · אֵפֶר (H665)Direct object of וְאָסַף (construct head)אֵפֶר (H665) 'ashes'; the chapter's central material product — what remains after total incineration becomes Israel's standing remedy for corpse-defilement.
הַפָּרָ֔הthe heiferart + N f sg abs · פָּרָה (H6510)Genitive complement completing אֵפֶר הַפָּרָהפָּרָה (H6510) 'heifer'; genitive, specifying whose ashes.
וְהִנִּ֛יחַand he shall depositconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · נוּחַ (H3240)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing instructions→ Weqatal: sequential instructionנוּחַ (H3240) Hiphil (causative) 'to set down, deposit, leave at rest'; the ashes are given a permanent, designated storage place.
מִח֥וּץoutsideprep מִן + N m sg abs · חוּץ (H2351)Prepositional phrase, spatialחוּץ (H2351) 'outside'; with מִן, 'outside of' — the ashes' storage, like the slaughter, is located beyond the camp.
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖הthe campprep לְ + art + N c(b) sg abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Object of the compound preposition מִחוּץ לְמַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp'.
בְּמָק֣וֹםin a placeprep בְּ + N m sg abs · מָקוֹם (H4725)Prepositional phrase, locativeמָקוֹם (H4725) 'place'; an unspecified but designated storage location.
טָה֑וֹרcleanadj m sg abs · טָהוֹר (H2889)Attributive adjective modifying מָקוֹםטָהוֹר (H2889) 'clean, pure'; the storage site, like the gatherer, must be ritually clean — the ashes, though produced by an unclean-making process, are kept in purity.
וְ֠הָיְתָהand it shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, weqatal stating the ashes' ongoing function→ Weqatal: sequential/resultative — establishes a standing, perpetual purposeהָיָה (H1961) Qal 'to be, become'; here 'shall serve as' — introduces the ashes' permanent liturgical function for the community.
לַעֲדַ֨תfor the congregation ofprep לְ + N f sg constr · עֵדָה (H5712)Prepositional phrase, dative (beneficiary), construct headעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation, assembly'; the ashes are held in trust for the whole community, not the priesthood alone.
בְּנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive complement (construct chain)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct plural, part of בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֧לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement completing עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵליִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the nation as beneficiary of the standing remedy.
לְמִשְׁמֶ֛רֶתfor safekeepingprep לְ + N f sg abs · מִשְׁמֶרֶת (H4931)Prepositional phrase, purpose ('as a thing kept')מִשְׁמֶרֶת (H4931) 'safekeeping, something guarded', from שָׁמַר 'to keep, guard'; the ashes are a treasured, carefully preserved reserve, not a one-time consumable.
לְמֵ֥יfor the water(s) ofprep לְ + N m pl constr · מַיִם (H4325)Prepositional phrase, purpose, construct headמַיִם (H4325) 'water', construct plural 'waters of' — introduces the technical term מֵי נִדָּה, water mixed with ash for purification (v. 17).
נִדָּ֖הimpurity/lustrationN f sg abs · נִדָּה (H5079)Genitive complement completing מֵי נִדָּהנִדָּה (H5079) 'impurity, menstrual separation, abhorrence' — but by an extension recognized since antiquity, also 'sprinkling, lustration' (perhaps a byform of נָדָה 'to toss, sprinkle'); מֵי נִדָּה is thus ambiguous between 'water for impurity' and 'water of sprinkling', a term commentators have long puzzled over.
חַטָּ֥אתa purification offeringN f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Predicate nominative (with הִוא)חַטָּאת (H2403) 'sin, sin offering, purification offering', from חָטָא 'to miss the mark, sin'; classifies the whole heifer-and-ashes complex as functioning like a חַטָּאת — a standing purification provision, not a one-time atoning sacrifice.
הִֽואit (is)personal pron 3fs · הוּא (H1931)Subject/copula of the nominal clause (resumptive pronoun)הוּא (H1931), 3fs form הִוא; resumptive pronoun functioning as copula, 'it is' — classifying the ash-water provision definitively as a חַטָּאת.
10

וְ֠כִבֶּס הָאֹסֵ֨ף אֶת אֵ֤פֶר הַפָּרָה֙ אֶת בְּגָדָ֔יו וְטָמֵ֖א עַד הָעָ֑רֶב וְֽהָיְתָ֞ה לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֛ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָֽם

And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his garments and be unclean until evening; and it shall be for the Israelites and for the resident alien who sojourns among them a perpetual statute.

Closing formula of the ash-heifer unitasyndeton
Closes the first major section (vv. 2-10) with an inclusio: חֻקָּה ('statute'), the term that opened the chapter (v. 2), now returns as חֻקַּת עוֹלָם ('a perpetual statute'), explicitly widened to include the resident alien — corpse-defilement and its remedy know no ethnic boundary within the camp.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
וְ֠כִבֶּסand he shall washconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כִּבֵּס (H3526)Predicate verb, weqatal introducing the gatherer's purification→ Weqatal: sequential instructionכִּבֵּס (H3526) Piel 'to wash, launder'; the ash-gatherer must launder, completing the pattern shared with the priest (v. 7) and burner (v. 8).
הָאֹסֵ֨ףthe one who gathersart + Qal ptc msa · אָסַף (H622)Subject (substantival participle) — 'the gatherer'→ Participle: substantival, denotes the agentאָסַף (H622) Qal active participle 'the one gathering'; the third figure in the chapter's chain of paradoxical defilement.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853) nota accusativi.
אֵ֤פֶרthe ashes ofN m sg constr · אֵפֶר (H665)Direct object of הָאֹסֵף (construct head)אֵפֶר (H665) 'ashes'; resumes the gathering act of v. 9.
הַפָּרָה֙the heiferart + N f sg abs · פָּרָה (H6510)Genitive complement completing אֵפֶר הַפָּרָהפָּרָה (H6510) 'heifer'.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker, second objectאֵת (H853), marking the second direct object, בְּגָדָיו.
בְּגָדָ֔יוhis garmentsN m pl constr + suffix 3ms · בֶּגֶד (H899)Direct object of וְכִבֶּסבֶּגֶד (H899) 'garment'; his clothing, contaminated by contact with the ashes.
וְטָמֵ֖אand he shall be uncleanconj וְ + Qal (stative) weqatal 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb, weqatal — the paradox stated a third time→ Weqatal: stative/resultativeטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; the gatherer too — the third of three officiants defiled by administering the purification rite.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional phrase, temporal terminusעַד (H5704) 'until'.
הָעָ֑רֶבthe eveningart + N m sg abs · עֶרֶב (H6153)Object of preposition עַדעֶרֶב (H6153) 'evening'; the impurity's terminus, identical to vv. 7-8.
וְֽהָיְתָ֞הand it shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, weqatal restating the ashes' standing function→ Weqatal: sequential/resultativeהָיָה (H1961) Qal 'to be, become'; restates v. 9's provision, now extending it explicitly to the resident alien.
לִבְנֵ֣יfor the sons ofprep לְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Prepositional phrase, dative (beneficiary), construct headבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct, part of לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל 'for the Israelites'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complementיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
וְלַגֵּ֛רand for the sojournerconj וְ + prep לְ + art + N m sg abs · גֵּר (H1616)Prepositional phrase, dative (second beneficiary)גֵּר (H1616) 'sojourner, resident alien'; the statute's remarkable extension beyond native Israelites — corpse-impurity and its remedy are shared by the whole community regardless of ethnic origin.
הַגָּ֥רwho residesart + Qal ptc msa · גּוּר (H1481)Attributive participle modifying גֵּר→ Participle: attributive, describes ongoing residenceגּוּר (H1481) Qal 'to sojourn, reside as a resident alien'; participle qualifying גֵּר, 'the sojourner who resides' — figura etymologica with the noun it modifies.
בְּתוֹכָ֖םin their midstprep בְּ + N m sg constr + suffix 3mp · תָּוֶךְ (H8432)Prepositional phrase, locativeתָּוֶךְ (H8432) 'midst'; with 3mp suffix, 'in their midst' — situates the resident alien as living among Israel.
לְחֻקַּ֥תas a statute ofprep לְ + N c(b) sg constr · חֻקָּה (H2708)Prepositional phrase, predicate of classification, construct headחֻקָּה (H2708) 'statute'; construct with עוֹלָם, 'a perpetual statute' — closing this major unit (vv. 2-10) with the same term that opened it (v. 2).
עוֹלָֽםforeverN m sg abs · עוֹלָם (H5769)Genitive complement completing חֻקַּת עוֹלָםעוֹלָם (H5769) 'long duration, antiquity, futurity'; here 'perpetual' — this ordinance binds Israel and its resident aliens permanently, not just the wilderness generation.
11

הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ בְּמֵ֖ת לְכָל נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָדָ֑ם וְטָמֵ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים

Whoever touches the corpse of any human being shall be unclean seven days.

New topic: corpse-contamination by ordinary contactasyndeton
A sharp pivot from the elaborate heifer rite (vv. 2-10) to a terse casuistic statute: mere contact with a human corpse defiles for seven days — the heifer's ashes exist precisely to remedy this everyday, unavoidable form of impurity.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
הַנֹּגֵ֥עַthe one who touchesart + Qal ptc msa · נָגַע (H5060)Subject (substantival participle), heading a new topic→ Participle: substantival, introduces the chapter's second major topic — corpse contamination by contactנָגַע (H5060) Qal 'to touch'; substantival participle opening the section on corpse-defilement through contact, echoed throughout vv. 11-22.
בְּמֵ֖תa dead personprep בְּ + Qal ptc msa · מוּת (H4191)Object of the participle הַנֹּגֵעַ (substantival use)→ Substantival participle: the dead one — the corpse whose touch defilesמוּת (H4191) Qal participle (substantival) 'dead (one), corpse'; the primary source of the impurity this chapter addresses.
לְכָלfor anyprep לְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase (explicative/distributive), construct headכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; explicates בְּמֵת — 'a dead person, of any human being'.
נֶ֣פֶשׁa personN c(b) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Genitive complement (in construct-like relation to כָל)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, life, person'; here simply 'person, individual' — נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם 'a human being'.
אָדָ֑םhumanN m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Genitive complement completing נֶפֶשׁ אָדָםאָדָם (H120) 'humankind, human'; specifies the corpse as human, as opposed to animal carcasses treated differently (cf. Lev 11).
וְטָמֵ֖אhe shall be uncleanconj וְ + Qal (stative) weqatal 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb, weqatal — apodosis of the implicit conditional→ Weqatal: resultative — states the consequence of contactטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; the resulting impurity status for anyone touching a corpse.
שִׁבְעַ֥תsevencardinal number m sg constr · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Numeral, construct head (with יָמִים), adverbial accusative of durationשֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven'; construct with יָמִים, the standard duration for corpse-contamination — the most severe grade of ritual impurity in the system.
יָמִֽיםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive complement completing שִׁבְעַת יָמִים (adverbial accusative of duration)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; plural, completing the duration formula.
12

ה֣וּא יִתְחַטָּא ב֞וֹ בַּיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛י וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י יִטְהָ֑ר וְאִם לֹ֨א יִתְחַטָּ֜א בַּיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛י וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י לֹ֥א יִטְהָֽר

He shall purify himself with it on the third day and on the seventh day, and he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day, then on the seventh day he will not be clean.

Procedural specification with conditional contrastasyndeton
Specifies the two-application timetable (day 3 and day 7) required for the ash-water to work, then contrasts it with the consequence of neglect — the same 3rd/7th-day pattern recurs for the tent-corpse case (v. 19), binding the chapter's two halves together procedurally.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ה֣וּאhepersonal pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject (resumptive/emphatic pronoun) of יִתְחַטָּאהוּא (H1931) 'he'; emphatic resumptive pronoun stressing that the defiled person himself must undergo purification.
יִתְחַטָּאhe shall purify himselfHitpael impf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb (yiqtol of instruction/obligation)→ Yiqtol: instructional/obligatory — privative Hitpael, 'he must de-sin himself'חָטָא (H2398) Hitpael 'to purify oneself (from sin/impurity)'; the privative Hitpael denotes removal of a state rather than ordinary reflexive action — the technical verb for undergoing the ash-water rite.
ב֞וֹwith itprep בְּ + suffix 3ms · בְּInstrumental prepositional phrase (with the water of impurity)בְּ 'with, by means of' with 3ms suffix, referring back to מֵי נִדָּה, the water of impurity (v. 9).
בַּיּ֧וֹםon the dayprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Prepositional phrase, temporalיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with article, specifying the first prescribed occasion.
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛יthe thirdart + ordinal adj m sg abs · שְׁלִישִׁי (H7992)Attributive adjective (ordinal) modifying יּוֹםשְׁלִישִׁי (H7992) 'third'; ordinal — the first of the rite's two mandated applications.
וּבַיּ֥וֹםand on the dayconj וְ + prep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Prepositional phrase, temporal (second occasion)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; second application day.
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖יthe seventhart + ordinal adj m sg abs · שְׁבִיעִי (H7637)Attributive adjective (ordinal) modifying יּוֹםשְׁבִיעִי (H7637) 'seventh'; ordinal — the second, final application, coinciding with the impurity's normal seven-day span (v. 11).
יִטְהָ֑רhe shall be cleanQal impf 3ms · טָהֵר (H2891)Predicate verb (resultative yiqtol) — apodosis→ Yiqtol: resultative — the completed effect of proper purificationטָהֵר (H2891) Qal 'to be(come) clean'; the positive outcome when the two-stage sprinkling is properly performed.
וְאִםbut ifconj וְ + conditional conj · אִם (H518)Conjunction introducing a conditional/contrastive clauseאִם (H518) 'if'; introduces the negative counter-case, failure to purify.
לֹ֨אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִתְחַטָּאלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
יִתְחַטָּ֜אhe purifies himselfHitpael impf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the conditional protasis (negated)→ Yiqtol: hypothetical/conditional — failure to undergo the riteחָטָא (H2398) Hitpael 'to purify oneself'; negated here, describing willful or careless neglect of the remedy.
בַּיּ֧וֹםon the dayprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Prepositional phrase, temporalיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; repeated from the positive case.
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛יthe thirdart + ordinal adj m sg abs · שְׁלִישִׁי (H7992)Attributive adjective (ordinal)שְׁלִישִׁי (H7992) 'third'.
וּבַיּ֥וֹםand on the dayconj וְ + prep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Prepositional phrase, temporalיוֹם (H3117) 'day'.
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖יthe seventhart + ordinal adj m sg abs · שְׁבִיעִי (H7637)Attributive adjective (ordinal)שְׁבִיעִי (H7637) 'seventh'.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִטְהָרלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
יִטְהָֽרhe shall be cleanQal impf 3ms · טָהֵר (H2891)Predicate verb (negated resultative yiqtol) — apodosis of the negative case→ Yiqtol: resultative, negated — the consequence of neglect is continued impurityטָהֵר (H2891) Qal 'to be(come) clean'; negated here — neglect of the two-stage rite leaves the person permanently unclean, setting up v. 13's grave consequence.
13

כָּֽל הַנֹּגֵ֡עַ בְּמֵ֣ת בְּנֶפֶשׁ֩ הָאָדָ֨ם אֲשֶׁר יָמ֜וּת וְלֹ֣א יִתְחַטָּ֗א אֶת מִשְׁכַּ֤ן יְהוָה֙ טִמֵּ֔א וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּי֩ מֵ֨י נִדָּ֜ה לֹא זֹרַ֤ק עָלָיו֙ טָמֵ֣א יִהְיֶ֔ה ע֖וֹד טֻמְאָת֥וֹ בֽוֹ

Everyone who touches a corpse, the body of a human being who has died, and does not purify himself, has defiled the tabernacle of YHWH; and that person shall be cut off from Israel, because the water of impurity was not sprinkled upon him — he remains unclean; his impurity is still upon him.

Consequence — the כָּרֵת penalty for neglectasyndeton
The chapter's gravest statement: neglecting the ash-water remedy is not a private oversight but an act that defiles YHWH's own dwelling and warrants excision from the covenant community — the highest stakes attached anywhere in Scripture to a purely ritual, non-moral failure.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
כָּֽלeveryoneN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Subject head (construct), 'everyone who...'כֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; construct heading the substantival relative clause 'everyone who touches'.
הַנֹּגֵ֡עַthe one who touchesart + Qal ptc msa · נָגַע (H5060)Attributive/substantival participle completing כָּל (subject)→ Participle: substantival, subject of the whole verse's warningנָגַע (H5060) Qal active participle 'touching'; resumes v. 11's opening topic, now escalated to the case of neglect.
בְּמֵ֣תa dead personprep בְּ + Qal ptc msa · מוּת (H4191)Object of participle הַנֹּגֵעַ→ Substantival participle: the dead one — the corpse whose touch defilesמוּת (H4191) Qal participle (substantival) 'dead (one)'.
בְּנֶפֶשׁ֩in the person ofprep בְּ + N c(b) sg constr · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Prepositional phrase, explicative, construct headנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, person'; explicative apposition, 'a dead person, namely the person of a human being who dies'.
הָאָדָ֨םthe humanart + N m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Genitive complement completing נֶפֶשׁ הָאָדָםאָדָם (H120) 'human'; with article, specifying the human referent of the relative clause that follows.
אֲשֶׁרwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clause (level 1)אֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the relative clause 'who dies'.
יָמ֜וּתdiesQal impf 3ms · מוּת (H4191)Predicate verb of relative clause→ Yiqtol: generic/gnomic — describes the general case of deathמוּת (H4191) Qal 'to die'; generic present, 'who dies', of anyone, at any time.
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִתְחַטָּאלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative, with conjunction.
יִתְחַטָּ֗אpurifies himselfHitpael impf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb, protasis of the main conditional→ Yiqtol: conditional/hypothetical — describes the neglecting partyחָטָא (H2398) Hitpael 'to purify oneself'; negated, describing the person who fails to undergo the rite.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853) nota accusativi marking מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה as the definite direct object.
מִשְׁכַּ֤ןthe tabernacle ofN m sg constr · מִשְׁכָּן (H4908)Direct object of טִמֵּא (construct head)מִשְׁכָּן (H4908) 'dwelling place, tabernacle', from שָׁכַן 'to dwell'; the neglecter is charged with defiling God's very sanctuary, even without physically entering it, simply by remaining in the camp unclean.
יְהוָה֙YHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement completing מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָהיְהוָה (H3068); the tabernacle's owner.
טִמֵּ֔אhe has defiledPiel perf 3ms · טִמֵּא (H2930)Predicate verb (main clause, perfective)→ Perfective (Piel factitive): a decisive, culpable act — he HAS defiledטִמֵּא (H2930) Piel (factitive) 'to make unclean, defile'; contrasts with the Qal stative טָמֵא 'to be unclean' — an active, culpable defiling of sacred space, not mere personal impurity.
וְנִכְרְתָ֛הand she shall be cut offconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3fs · כָּרַת (H3772)Predicate verb, weqatal — the penalty clause→ Weqatal (Niphal passive): the penal consequence — excision from the communityכָּרַת (H3772) Niphal (passive) 'to be cut off'; the כָּרֵת penalty — exclusion from the covenant community, Scripture's gravest non-capital sanction.
הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁthe personart + N c(b) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of וְנִכְרְתָהנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, person'; with article, resuming 'that person' as the one cut off.
הַהִ֖ואthatart + personal pron 3fs · הוּא (H1931)Attributive demonstrative-like pronoun modifying הַנֶּפֶשׁ ('that person')הוּא (H1931) with article functioning as 'that' — הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא 'that person', the standard כָּרֵת formula.
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑לfrom Israelprep מִן + proper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Prepositional phrase, separative (source of excision)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); with מִן, 'from Israel' — the community from which the offender is severed.
כִּי֩becauseconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the rationale for כָּרֵתכִּי (H3588) 'because, for'; introduces the ground for the severe penalty.
מֵ֨יthe water(s) ofN m pl constr · מַיִם (H4325)Subject (construct head) of the passive clauseמַיִם (H4325) 'water', construct — resumes מֵי נִדָּה from v. 9.
נִדָּ֜הimpurity/lustrationN f sg abs · נִדָּה (H5079)Genitive complement completing מֵי נִדָּהנִדָּה (H5079); see v. 9 — 'water of impurity/lustration'.
לֹאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates זֹרַקלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
זֹרַ֤קwas sprinkledQal passive perf 3ms · זָרַק (H2236)Predicate verb (passive), main clause of the causal כִּי-clause→ Perfective (Qal passive): a simple past fact — the water was never appliedזָרַק (H2236) Qal passive 'to be sprinkled, tossed'; the rare passive Qal stem marks the water's non-application as the plain cause of continued defilement.
עָלָיו֙upon himprep עַל + suffix 3ms · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative complement of זֹרַקעַל (H5921) 'upon' with 3ms suffix, referring to the neglectful person.
טָמֵ֣אuncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjective (with יִהְיֶה)טָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; predicate adjective describing continuing status.
יִהְיֶ֔הhe shall remainQal impf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (copula, resultative yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: resultative — continuing, ongoing stateהָיָה (H1961) Qal 'to be, become'; copula with טָמֵא, 'he remains unclean'.
ע֖וֹדstilladverb · עוֹד (H5750)Adverb modifying יִהְיֶה (durative)עוֹד (H5750) 'still, yet, again'; emphasizes the ongoing, unresolved nature of the impurity.
טֻמְאָת֥וֹhis impurityN f sg constr + suffix 3ms · טֻמְאָה (H2932)Subject of the final nominal clause (with בּוֹ)טֻמְאָה (H2932) 'impurity, uncleanness', from טָמֵא; abstract noun naming the persisting condition explicitly.
בֽוֹin himprep בְּ + suffix 3ms · בְּPrepositional phrase, locative, completing the final clauseבְּ 'in, on' with 3ms suffix — the impurity remains lodged in him, the verse's grim closing note.
14

זֹ֚את הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אָדָ֖ם כִּֽי יָמ֣וּת בְּאֹ֑הֶל כָּל הַבָּ֤א אֶל הָאֹ֨הֶל֙ וְכָל אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּאֹ֔הֶל יִטְמָ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים

This is the law: when a person dies in a tent, everyone who enters the tent, and everyone who is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

New sub-law: the tent-death caseasyndeton
A second זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה formula (echoing v. 2) opens a new unit specifying that a death indoors contaminates the whole enclosed space — impurity radiates outward from the corpse to fill the dwelling, contracted by mere presence or entry, not touch.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
זֹ֚אתthisdemonstrative pron fs · זֹאת (H2063)Fronted predicate/subject (casus pendens), echoing v. 2זֹאת (H2063) 'this'; opens a new sub-law with the same formula as v. 2, marking a structural parallel.
הַתּוֹרָ֔הthe lawart + N f sg abs · תּוֹרָה (H8451)Predicate noun (with זֹאת)תּוֹרָה (H8451) 'instruction, law'; 'this is the procedure' for the tent-death case specifically.
אָדָ֖םa personN m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Subject of the conditional clause (casus pendens, resumed)אָדָם (H120) 'human'; introduces the case, 'a person — should he die in a tent...'.
כִּֽיwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conditional/temporal conjunction introducing the protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if'; conditional, introducing the death-in-a-tent scenario.
יָמ֣וּתhe diesQal impf 3ms · מוּת (H4191)Predicate verb of the conditional clause→ Yiqtol: conditional/hypotheticalמוּת (H4191) Qal 'to die'.
בְּאֹ֑הֶלin a tentprep בְּ + N m sg abs · אֹהֶל (H168)Prepositional phrase, locativeאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; the scenario's setting — dwellings, not just corpses themselves, transmit impurity.
כָּלeveryoneN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Subject head (construct) of the next clauseכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; heading the first of two parallel clauses.
הַבָּ֤אwho entersart + Qal ptc msa · בּוֹא (H935)Attributive/substantival participle completing כָּל→ Participle: substantival, denotes anyone who subsequently entersבּוֹא (H935) Qal active participle 'entering, coming'; anyone who comes into the tent after the death, even without touching the body, contracts impurity.
אֶלintoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, goal of motionאֶל (H413) 'to, into'.
הָאֹ֨הֶל֙the tentart + N m sg abs · אֹהֶל (H168)Object of preposition אֶלאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'.
וְכָלand everyoneconj וְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Subject head (construct) of the second parallel clauseכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; second clause — covers what/who was already present, not just those entering.
אֲשֶׁ֣רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834); 'that is/was in the tent' — extends the impurity to occupants and, implicitly, contents.
בָּאֹ֔הֶלin the tentprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · אֹהֶל (H168)Prepositional phrase, locative, predicate of the relative clauseאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; locative, marking presence within at the time of death.
יִטְמָ֖אshall be uncleanQal impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (apodosis, resultative yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: resultative — consequence for both classes namedטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; applies uniformly to both those entering and those already present.
שִׁבְעַ֥תsevencardinal number m sg constr · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Numeral, construct head, adverbial accusative of durationשֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven'; the standard corpse-impurity duration (cf. v. 11).
יָמִֽיםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive complement completing שִׁבְעַת יָמִיםיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; completes the duration formula.
15

וְכֹל֙ כְּלִ֣י פָת֔וּחַ אֲשֶׁ֛ר אֵין צָמִ֥יד פָּתִ֖יל עָלָ֑יו טָמֵ֖א הֽוּא

And every open vessel, which has no cord-bound cover upon it, is unclean.

Extension: contents and containersasyndeton
A practical corollary of v. 14: household vessels inside the death-tent are protected only by an airtight seal (cord and lid); anything left open shares the tent's contamination — the rite anticipates a wilderness household's daily reality.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְכֹל֙and everyconj וְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Subject head (construct), new clauseכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; introduces the vessel sub-case within the tent-death law.
כְּלִ֣יvesselN m sg abs · כְּלִי (H3627)Head noun completing וְכֹלכְּלִי (H3627) 'vessel, utensil, container'; household items are also susceptible to corpse-contamination if left open.
פָת֔וּחַopenQal passive ptc msa · פָּתַח (H6605)Attributive participle modifying כְּלִי→ Participle (passive): describes the vessel's exposed stateפָּתַח (H6605) Qal passive participle 'opened'; a vessel without a sealed cover is vulnerable to corpse-impurity pervading the tent.
אֲשֶׁ֛רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the qualifying clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the further specification of 'open'.
אֵיןthere is notnegative existential particle · אַיִן (H369)Predicator of non-existenceאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'; negates the existence of a sealed lid.
צָמִ֥ידa binding ofN m sg constr · צָמִיד (H6781)Subject of the existential clause, construct headצָמִיד (H6781) 'fastening, covering' (from צָמַד 'to bind, join'); here 'a tightly bound cover'.
פָּתִ֖ילcordN m sg abs · פָּתִיל (H6616)Genitive complement completing צָמִיד פָּתִילפָּתִיל (H6616) 'cord, thread'; צָמִיד פָּתִיל together denote a lid bound on with cord — an airtight seal, the technical threshold for a vessel's protection.
עָלָ֑יוupon itprep עַל + suffix 3ms · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative complement of אֵיןעַל (H5921) 'upon' with 3ms suffix, referring to the vessel.
טָמֵ֖אuncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjective (with הוּא)טָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; predicate describing the vessel's status.
הֽוּאit (is)personal pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject/copula of the nominal clause (resumptive pronoun)הוּא (H1931); resumptive pronoun-copula, 'it is unclean'.
16

וְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁר יִגַּ֜ע עַל פְּנֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה בַּֽחֲלַל חֶ֨רֶב֙ א֣וֹ בְמֵ֔ת אֽוֹ בְעֶ֥צֶם אָדָ֖ם א֣וֹ בְקָ֑בֶר יִטְמָ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים

And whoever touches, in the open field, one slain by the sword, or a dead body, or a human bone, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Extension: the open-field caseasyndeton
Completes the chapter's survey of contamination vectors — indoors (vv. 14-15) and outdoors (v. 16) — with a fourfold list (slain, corpse, bone, grave) that is remarkably comprehensive: even a lone bone or an unmarked grave, encountered by accident, defiles like a fresh corpse.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
וְכֹ֨לand whoeverconj וְ + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Subject head, new clause (open-field cases)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; opens the last major sub-case: death or remains encountered in the open field.
אֲשֶׁרwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the touching-clause.
יִגַּ֜עtouchesQal impf 3ms · נָגַע (H5060)Predicate verb of relative clause→ Yiqtol: generic/conditionalנָגַע (H5060) Qal 'to touch'; generic, covering any of the four items listed.
עַלuponprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative (with פְּנֵי)עַל (H5921) 'upon'; with פְּנֵי, idiom 'upon the surface of'.
פְּנֵ֣יthe face ofN c(b) pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Construct head (with הַשָּׂדֶה)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; idiom עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה 'in the open field'.
הַשָּׂדֶ֗הthe fieldart + N m sg abs · שָׂדֶה (H7704)Genitive complement completing עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶהשָׂדֶה (H7704) 'field, open country'; distinguishes exposed, unenclosed ground from the tent/dwelling of vv. 14-15.
בַּֽחֲלַלone slain byprep בְּ + adj m sg constr · חָלָל (H2491)Object of יִגַּע (first item), construct headחָלָל (H2491) 'slain, pierced (one)'; the first of four contamination sources — a battlefield or violent-death casualty.
חֶ֨רֶב֙the swordN f sg abs · חֶרֶב (H2719)Genitive complement completing חֲלַל חֶרֶבחֶרֶב (H2719) 'sword'; 'one slain by the sword' — a violent death, contrasted with natural death.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction linking the list's itemsאוֹ (H176) 'or'; separates the four items — slain, corpse, bone, grave.
בְמֵ֔תa dead personprep בְּ + Qal ptc msa · מוּת (H4191)Object of יִגַּע (second item)→ Substantival participle: the dead one — the corpse whose touch defilesמוּת (H4191) Qal participle (substantival) 'dead (one)'; an ordinary corpse encountered in the field.
אֽוֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'.
בְעֶ֥צֶםa bone ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · עֶצֶם (H6106)Object of יִגַּע (third item), construct headעֶצֶם (H6106) 'bone'; even a single dry bone transmits corpse-impurity — rabbinic law later specified minimum quantities.
אָדָ֖םhumanN m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Genitive complement completing עֶצֶם אָדָםאָדָם (H120) 'human'; specifies the bone as human, not animal.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'.
בְקָ֑בֶרa graveprep בְּ + N m sg abs · קֶבֶר (H6913)Object of יִגַּע (fourth item)קֶבֶר (H6913) 'grave, tomb'; the fourth source — contact with a burial site, not only a body, defiles.
יִטְמָ֖אshall be uncleanQal impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (apodosis, resultative yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: resultativeטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; the uniform consequence for touching any of the four.
שִׁבְעַ֥תsevencardinal number m sg constr · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Numeral, construct head, adverbial accusative of durationשֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven'; standard duration, as throughout the chapter.
יָמִֽיםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive complement completing שִׁבְעַת יָמִיםיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; completes the duration formula.
17

וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ לַטָּמֵ֔א מֵעֲפַ֖ר שְׂרֵפַ֣ת הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְנָתַ֥ן עָלָ֛יו מַ֥יִם חַיִּ֖ים אֶל כֶּֽלִי

And for the unclean person they shall take some of the dust of the burning of the purification offering, and running water shall be added to it in a vessel.

Procedural remedy — preparing the water of impurityasyndeton
Returns from the catalog of defilements (vv. 11-16) to procedure: the stored ashes of ch. 9 are finally put to use, mixed with fresh ('living') water — the chapter's whole point, that a remedy exists and must be administered.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְלָֽקְחוּ֙and they shall takeconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb, weqatal beginning the remediation procedure→ Weqatal: sequential instruction — the remedy procedure for the defiled personלָקַח (H3947) Qal 'to take'; the community/attendants now enact the cure described procedurally.
לַטָּמֵ֔אfor the unclean oneprep לְ + art + adj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Prepositional phrase, dative (beneficiary)טָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; substantival, 'the unclean person' — the beneficiary for whom the ashes are prepared.
מֵעֲפַ֖רfrom the dust ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · עָפָר (H6083)Prepositional phrase, partitive, construct headעָפָר (H6083) 'dust, dry earth'; designates the heifer's ashes by their dust-like consistency — 'dust of the burning of the purification offering'.
שְׂרֵפַ֣תthe burning ofN f sg constr · שְׂרֵפָה (H8316)Genitive complement completing עֲפַר שְׂרֵפַתשְׂרֵפָה (H8316) 'burning'; construct, resuming the term from v. 6.
הַֽחַטָּ֑אתthe purification offeringart + N f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Genitive complement completing שְׂרֵפַת הַחַטָּאתחַטָּאת (H2403) 'sin/purification offering'; explicitly names the heifer complex as a חַטָּאת, resuming v. 9's classification.
וְנָתַ֥ןand he shall putconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing the preparation→ Weqatal: sequential instructionנָתַן (H5414) Qal 'to give, put'; the ashes are combined with fresh water to form the actual מֵי נִדָּה.
עָלָ֛יוupon itprep עַל + suffix 3ms · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative complement of וְנָתַןעַל (H5921) 'upon' with 3ms suffix, referring to the dust/ashes.
מַ֥יִםwaterN m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Direct object of וְנָתַןמַיִם (H4325) 'water'; combined with the ashes to constitute the purifying mixture.
חַיִּ֖יםlivingadj m pl abs · חַי (H2416)Attributive adjective modifying מַיִםחַי (H2416) 'living'; מַיִם חַיִּים 'living/fresh water' — running or spring water, required here as in other purification rites (cf. Lev 14:5-6, 50-52).
אֶלintoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, goalאֶל (H413) 'to, into'.
כֶּֽלִיa vesselN m sg abs · כְּלִי (H3627)Object of preposition אֶלכְּלִי (H3627) 'vessel'; the container in which ashes and water are combined and kept ready for sprinkling.
18

וְלָקַ֨ח אֵז֜וֹב וְטָבַ֣ל בַּמַּיִם֮ אִ֣ישׁ טָהוֹר֒ וְהִזָּ֤ה עַל הָאֹ֨הֶל֙ וְעַל כָּל הַכֵּלִ֔ים וְעַל הַנְּפָשׁ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽיוּ שָׁ֑ם וְעַל הַנֹּגֵ֗עַ בַּעֶ֨צֶם֙ א֣וֹ בֶֽחָלָ֔ל א֥וֹ בַמֵּ֖ת א֥וֹ בַקָּֽבֶר

And a clean man shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent and upon all the vessels and upon the persons who were there, and upon the one who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave.

Application of the remedy to every contaminated object and personasyndeton
The hyssop-and-water application closes the loop opened at vv. 14-16: every category of defilement named there — tent, vessels, occupants, and each of the four field-contact cases — now receives its matching remedy, applied by a single clean officiant.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
וְלָקַ֨חand he shall takeconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb, weqatal introducing the sprinkling procedure→ Weqatal: sequential instructionלָקַח (H3947) Qal 'to take'; the clean man now takes hyssop to apply the mixed water.
אֵז֜וֹבhyssopN m sg abs · אֵזוֹב (H231)Direct object of וְלָקַחאֵזוֹב (H231) 'hyssop'; the sprinkling instrument, as in v. 6 and the Passover/leprosy rites.
וְטָבַ֣לand he shall dipconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · טָבַל (H2881)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing the procedure→ Weqatal: sequential instructionטָבַל (H2881) Qal 'to dip'; the hyssop is dipped into the prepared water before sprinkling.
בַּמַּיִם֮in the waterprep בְּ + art + N m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Prepositional phrase, locative/instrumentalמַיִם (H4325) 'water'; the mixed ash-water of v. 17.
אִ֣ישׁa manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject of the whole sequence (resumed)אִישׁ (H376) 'man'; identifies the officiant performing the sprinkling — presumably the clean man of vv. 9, 17, not necessarily a priest.
טָהוֹר֒cleanadj m sg abs · טָהוֹר (H2889)Attributive adjective modifying אִישׁטָהוֹר (H2889) 'clean, pure'; the sprinkler, like the ash-gatherer, must himself be ritually clean — yet per v. 21 he too becomes unclean by the act.
וְהִזָּ֤הand he shall sprinkleconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · נָזָה (H5137)Predicate verb, weqatal — the central act of application→ Weqatal: sequential instruction — the actual purifying gestureנָזָה (H5137) Hiphil 'to sprinkle'; the same technical verb as vv. 4, 19, 21, now applied to persons and objects rather than toward the sanctuary.
עַלuponprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative (first target)עַל (H5921) 'upon'; introduces the first of four sprinkling targets.
הָאֹ֨הֶל֙the tentart + N m sg abs · אֹהֶל (H168)Object of preposition עַל (first target)אֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; the contaminated dwelling itself is sprinkled.
וְעַלand uponconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative (second target)עַל (H5921) 'upon', repeated for the second target.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct head, second targetכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'.
הַכֵּלִ֔יםthe vesselsart + N m pl abs · כְּלִי (H3627)Genitive complement completing כָּל הַכֵּלִיםכְּלִי (H3627) 'vessel'; plural, the second sprinkling target, resuming v. 15's open vessels.
וְעַלand uponconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative (third target)עַל (H5921) 'upon', third target.
הַנְּפָשׁ֖וֹתthe personsart + N c(b) pl abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Object of preposition עַל (third target)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, person'; plural, the human occupants present in the tent (cf. v. 14).
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the clause specifying presence.
הָֽיוּwereQal perf 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb of relative clause→ Perfective: states the simple fact of prior presenceהָיָה (H1961) Qal 'to be'; 'who were there' at the time of death.
שָׁ֑םthereadverb · שָׁם (H8033)Adverb of place, complement of הָיוּשָׁם (H8033) 'there'; locates the persons within the contaminated tent.
וְעַלand uponconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative (fourth target)עַל (H5921) 'upon', fourth and final target.
הַנֹּגֵ֗עַthe one who touchedart + Qal ptc msa · נָגַע (H5060)Substantival participle, object of preposition עַל (fourth target)→ Participle: substantival, subject-like role as sprinkling targetנָגַע (H5060) Qal participle 'touching'; whoever contracted impurity by touching any of the four items now listed.
בַּעֶ֨צֶם֙the boneprep בְּ + art + N f sg abs · עֶצֶם (H6106)Object of the participle הַנֹּגֵעַ (first item)עֶצֶם (H6106) 'bone'; resumes v. 16's list, now as the object requiring purification.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'.
בֶֽחָלָ֔לthe slainprep בְּ + art + adj m sg abs · חָלָל (H2491)Object of the participle (second item)חָלָל (H2491) 'slain (one)'; second item, resuming v. 16.
א֥וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'.
בַמֵּ֖תthe deadprep בְּ + art + Qal ptc msa · מוּת (H4191)Object of the participle (third item)→ Substantival participle: the dead one — the corpse whose touch defilesמוּת (H4191) Qal participle (substantival) 'dead (one)'; third item.
א֥וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'.
בַקָּֽבֶרthe graveprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · קֶבֶר (H6913)Object of the participle (fourth item)קֶבֶר (H6913) 'grave'; fourth and final item, completing the fourfold correspondence with v. 16.
19

וְהִזָּ֤ה הַטָּהֹר֙ עַל הַטָּמֵ֔א בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖י וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י וְחִטְּאוֹ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וְכִבֶּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָהֵ֥ר בָּעָֽרֶב

And the clean one shall sprinkle it upon the unclean one on the third day and on the seventh day, and he shall purify him on the seventh day; and he shall wash his garments and bathe in water, and he shall be clean by evening.

Procedural resolution matching v. 12's timetableasyndeton
The tent/field defilement (vv. 14-18) is resolved by the same third/seventh-day schedule prescribed in v. 12, binding the chapter's two case studies into a single procedural system; the once-defiled person completes his own washing after the officiant's sprinkling.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וְהִזָּ֤הand he shall sprinkleconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · נָזָה (H5137)Predicate verb, weqatal — resuming the two-stage timetable→ Weqatal: sequential instructionנָזָה (H5137) Hiphil 'to sprinkle'; the sprinkling act, now timed to the third/seventh-day schedule of v. 12.
הַטָּהֹר֙the clean oneart + adj m sg abs · טָהוֹר (H2889)Subject of וְהִזָּהטָהוֹר (H2889) 'clean'; substantival, the officiant identified simply by his ritual status.
עַלuponprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locativeעַל (H5921) 'upon'.
הַטָּמֵ֔אthe unclean oneart + adj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Object of preposition עַלטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; substantival, the defiled recipient.
בַּיּ֥וֹםon the dayprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Prepositional phrase, temporalיוֹם (H3117) 'day'.
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖יthe thirdart + ordinal adj m sg abs · שְׁלִישִׁי (H7992)Attributive adjective (ordinal)שְׁלִישִׁי (H7992) 'third'; resumes v. 12's timetable.
וּבַיּ֣וֹםand on the dayconj וְ + prep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Prepositional phrase, temporal (second occasion)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'.
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑יthe seventhart + ordinal adj m sg abs · שְׁבִיעִי (H7637)Attributive adjective (ordinal)שְׁבִיעִי (H7637) 'seventh'.
וְחִטְּאוֹ֙and he shall purify himconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms + suffix 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb (Piel factitive, transitive) with pronominal object→ Weqatal (Piel factitive): the sprinkler purifies HIM — an active, transitive purificationחָטָא (H2398) Piel (privative/factitive) 'to purify, de-sin (someone)'; contrasts with the Hitpael יִתְחַטֵּא of v. 12 (reflexive) — here the officiant transitively purifies another, with the 3ms suffix as direct object.
בַּיּ֣וֹםon the dayprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Prepositional phrase, temporalיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; the seventh-day completion of the rite.
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔יthe seventhart + ordinal adj m sg abs · שְׁבִיעִי (H7637)Attributive adjective (ordinal)שְׁבִיעִי (H7637) 'seventh'; final application day.
וְכִבֶּ֧סand he shall washconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כִּבֵּס (H3526)Predicate verb, weqatal — the purified person's own response→ Weqatal: sequential instructionכִּבֵּס (H3526) Piel 'to wash, launder'; now the defiled person himself (not an officiant) washes, completing his own purification.
בְּגָדָ֛יוhis garmentsN m pl constr + suffix 3ms · בֶּגֶד (H899)Direct object of וְכִבֶּסבֶּגֶד (H899) 'garment'; the formerly-unclean person's own clothing.
וְרָחַ֥ץand he shall batheconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · רָחַץ (H7364)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing purification→ Weqatal: sequential instructionרָחַץ (H7364) Qal 'to wash, bathe'.
בַּמַּ֖יִםin waterprep בְּ + art + N m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Prepositional phrase, instrumentalמַיִם (H4325) 'water'.
וְטָהֵ֥רand he shall be cleanconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · טָהֵר (H2891)Predicate verb, weqatal — the rite's successful outcome→ Weqatal: resultative — the completed purificationטָהֵר (H2891) Qal 'to be(come) clean'; the culmination of the entire process for the corpse-defiled person, finally cleansed.
בָּעָֽרֶבin the eveningprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · עֶרֶב (H6153)Prepositional phrase, temporal (terminus)עֶרֶב (H6153) 'evening'; even after the full ritual, cleanness is fully achieved only at evening — the standard temporal boundary throughout the chapter.
20

וְאִ֤ישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִטְמָא֙ וְלֹ֣א יִתְחַטָּ֔א וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַקָּהָ֑ל כִּי֩ אֶת מִקְדַּ֨שׁ יְהוָ֜ה טִמֵּ֗א מֵ֥י נִדָּ֛ה לֹא זֹרַ֥ק עָלָ֖יו טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא

But the man who becomes unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of YHWH; the water of impurity was not sprinkled upon him — he is unclean.

Inclusio — restating v. 13's penaltyasyndeton
This near-verbatim repetition of v. 13 closes the corpse-impurity unit (vv. 11-20) with the same grave warning that framed it, using synonymous vocabulary (מִקְדָּשׁ/קָהָל for מִשְׁכָּן/יִשְׂרָאֵל) — a rhetorical bracket underscoring how seriously Israel's legislators regarded ritual negligence.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וְאִ֤ישׁand a manconj וְ + N m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject (casus pendens), new clauseאִישׁ (H376) 'man'; introduces a summary restatement of the neglect-penalty, echoing v. 13.
אֲשֶׁרwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the relative clause.
יִטְמָא֙becomes uncleanQal impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb of relative clause→ Yiqtol: conditional/genericטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be(come) unclean'; the general condition triggering the clause.
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִתְחַטָּאלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
יִתְחַטָּ֔אpurifies himselfHitpael impf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb, protasis (negated)→ Yiqtol: conditional — describes neglectחָטָא (H2398) Hitpael 'to purify oneself'; negated, restating the neglect scenario of vv. 12-13.
וְנִכְרְתָ֛הand she shall be cut offconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3fs · כָּרַת (H3772)Predicate verb, weqatal — the penalty clause→ Weqatal (Niphal passive): the penal consequenceכָּרַת (H3772) Niphal (passive) 'to be cut off'; the כָּרֵת penalty, exactly as in v. 13.
הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁthe personart + N c(b) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of וְנִכְרְתָהנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, person'.
הַהִ֖ואthatart + personal pron 3fs · הוּא (H1931)Attributive pronoun modifying הַנֶּפֶשׁהוּא (H1931) with article, 'that' — הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא, the standard כָּרֵת formula.
מִתּ֣וֹךְfrom the midst ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · תָּוֶךְ (H8432)Prepositional phrase, separative, construct headתָּוֶךְ (H8432) 'midst'; with מִן, 'from the midst of' — a variant of v. 13's מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, here 'from the midst of the assembly'.
הַקָּהָ֑לthe assemblyart + N m sg abs · קָהָל (H6951)Genitive complement completing מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָלקָהָל (H6951) 'assembly, congregation'; a near-synonym of עֵדָה (v. 9), emphasizing the corporate body from which the offender is excised.
כִּי֩becauseconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the rationaleכִּי (H3588) 'because, for'.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853) nota accusativi marking מִקְדַּשׁ יְהוָה as the definite direct object.
מִקְדַּ֨שׁthe sanctuary ofN m sg constr · מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720)Direct object of טִמֵּא (construct head)מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720) 'sanctuary, holy place', from קָדַשׁ 'to be holy'; a near-synonym of מִשְׁכָּן (v. 13), naming YHWH's sacred precinct as the object defiled.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement completing מִקְדַּשׁ יְהוָהיְהוָה (H3068).
טִמֵּ֗אhe has defiledPiel perf 3ms · טִמֵּא (H2930)Predicate verb, perfective, main clause→ Perfective (Piel factitive): a decisive, culpable actטִמֵּא (H2930) Piel (factitive) 'to make unclean, defile'; restates v. 13's culpable defiling of sacred space.
מֵ֥יthe water(s) ofN m pl constr · מַיִם (H4325)Subject (construct head) of the passive clauseמַיִם (H4325) 'water', construct — resumes מֵי נִדָּה once more.
נִדָּ֛הimpurity/lustrationN f sg abs · נִדָּה (H5079)Genitive complement completing מֵי נִדָּהנִדָּה (H5079); see vv. 9, 13.
לֹאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates זֹרַקלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
זֹרַ֥קwas sprinkledQal passive perf 3ms · זָרַק (H2236)Predicate verb (passive), main clause of the causal כִּי-clause→ Perfective (Qal passive): a simple past factזָרַק (H2236) Qal passive 'to be sprinkled'; repeats v. 13's exact formula.
עָלָ֖יוupon himprep עַל + suffix 3ms · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locative complement of זֹרַקעַל (H5921) 'upon' with 3ms suffix.
טָמֵ֥אuncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjective (with הוּא)טָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'.
הֽוּאhe (is)personal pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject/copula of the nominal clause (resumptive pronoun)הוּא (H1931); resumptive copula, 'he is unclean' — closes with the identical formula of v. 13, forming an inclusio around the whole corpse-impurity unit (vv. 11-20).
21

וְהָיְתָ֥ה לָּהֶ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם וּמַזֵּ֤ה מֵֽי הַנִּדָּה֙ יְכַבֵּ֣ס בְּגָדָ֔יו וְהַנֹּגֵ֨עַ֙ בְּמֵ֣י הַנִּדָּ֔ה יִטְמָ֖א עַד הָעָֽרֶב

And it shall be a perpetual statute for them: the one who sprinkles the water of impurity shall wash his garments, and whoever touches the water of impurity shall be unclean until evening.

Climactic statement of the purifier-defiles paradoxasyndeton
The chapter's most quoted crux: the very water that cleanses the corpse-defiled renders unclean anyone who merely touches it, including the sprinkler himself. Ancient and rabbinic commentators seized on this as the supreme instance of the inscrutable ḥoq — a law whose logic outstrips ordinary reason.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וְהָיְתָ֥הand it shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, weqatal restating the statute's standing status→ Weqatal: sequential/resultativeהָיָה (H1961) Qal 'to be, become'; introduces a final closing statute, echoing v. 10's formula.
לָּהֶ֖םfor themprep לְ + suffix 3mp · לְPrepositional phrase, dative (beneficiary)לְ 'for, to' with 3mp suffix, referring to the Israelites and resident aliens (cf. v. 10).
לְחֻקַּ֣תas a statute ofprep לְ + N c(b) sg constr · חֻקָּה (H2708)Prepositional phrase, predicate of classification, construct headחֻקָּה (H2708) 'statute'; construct with עוֹלָם, 'a perpetual statute', echoing v. 10 and the chapter's opening term (v. 2).
עוֹלָ֑םforeverN m sg abs · עוֹלָם (H5769)Genitive complement completing חֻקַּת עוֹלָםעוֹלָם (H5769) 'long duration, perpetuity'; binds this closing provision permanently.
וּמַזֵּ֤הand the one who sprinklesconj וְ + Hiphil ptc msc · נָזָה (H5137)Subject (substantival participle) — 'the sprinkler'→ Participle: substantival, names the officiant as subject of the closing ruleנָזָה (H5137) Hiphil participle 'the one sprinkling'; names the sprinkler-officiant explicitly as subject of the final paradox statement.
מֵֽיthe water(s) ofN m pl constr · מַיִם (H4325)Genitive complement (object of the participle, construct head)מַיִם (H4325) 'water', construct — object of the sprinkling participle.
הַנִּדָּה֙the impurityart + N f sg abs · נִדָּה (H5079)Genitive complement completing מֵי הַנִּדָּהנִדָּה (H5079); with article, 'the water of impurity' — the technical term now fully definite after repeated introduction.
יְכַבֵּ֣סhe shall washPiel impf 3ms · כִּבֵּס (H3526)Predicate verb (yiqtol of instruction)→ Yiqtol: instructional — required purification for the sprinkler himselfכִּבֵּס (H3526) Piel 'to wash, launder'; the sprinkler-officiant, having just purified another, must launder his own garments — the paradox's final, most explicit statement: the purifier himself needs purifying.
בְּגָדָ֔יוhis garmentsN m pl constr + suffix 3ms · בֶּגֶד (H899)Direct object of יְכַבֵּסבֶּגֶד (H899) 'garment'; his own clothing, contaminated by contact with the water of impurity.
וְהַנֹּגֵ֨עַ֙and the one who touchesconj וְ + art + Qal ptc msa · נָגַע (H5060)Subject (substantival participle), new clause→ Participle: substantival, introduces a further extension of contaminationנָגַע (H5060) Qal participle 'touching'; extends contamination even to mere incidental contact with the purifying water itself.
בְּמֵ֣יthe water(s) ofprep בְּ + N m pl constr · מַיִם (H4325)Object of the participle הַנֹּגֵעַ, construct headמַיִם (H4325) 'water', construct — object of touching.
הַנִּדָּ֔הthe impurityart + N f sg abs · נִדָּה (H5079)Genitive complement completing בְּמֵי הַנִּדָּהנִדָּה (H5079); completes the phrase — even touching this ostensibly purifying substance defiles.
יִטְמָ֖אshall be uncleanQal impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (resultative yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: resultative — the chapter's final, sharpest statement of the paradoxטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; the purifying water itself defiles whoever merely touches it — the paradox pressed to its furthest point.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional phrase, temporal terminusעַד (H5704) 'until'.
הָעָֽרֶבthe eveningart + N m sg abs · עֶרֶב (H6153)Object of preposition עַדעֶרֶב (H6153) 'evening'; the impurity's terminus, as throughout the chapter — even this final, paradoxical impurity resolves by the same ordinary rule.
22

וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר יִגַּע בּ֥וֹ הַטָּמֵ֖א יִטְמָ֑א וְהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַנֹּגַ֖עַת תִּטְמָ֥א עַד הָעָֽרֶב

Whatever the unclean one touches shall be unclean; and the person who touches it shall be unclean until evening.

General closing principleasyndeton
The chapter's final sentence distills its entire logic into a bare principle of contagion — uncleanness spreads by contact, resolved only by time and washing — closing a unit that opened with an inscrutable statute and ends with the plain, almost proverbial rule that governs it.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְכֹ֛לand whateverconj וְ + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Subject head, final closing clauseכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; introduces the chapter's final generalizing statement.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834).
יִגַּעtouchesQal impf 3ms · נָגַע (H5060)Predicate verb of relative clause→ Yiqtol: generic/conditionalנָגַע (H5060) Qal 'to touch'; the final restatement of the chapter's key verb of transmission.
בּ֥וֹitprep בְּ + suffix 3ms · בְּObject of יִגַּע, referring to the unclean thing/waterבְּ with 3ms suffix, referring back to the water of impurity or unclean object of v. 21.
הַטָּמֵ֖אthe unclean oneart + adj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Subject of יִטְמָא (resumed, casus pendens)טָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; substantival, generalizing the whole chapter's chain of contact-transmitted impurity.
יִטְמָ֑אshall be uncleanQal impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (resultative yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: resultative — states the transmission principle generallyטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; states the chapter's underlying logic as a general principle — contact with the unclean transmits uncleanness.
וְהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁand the personconj וְ + art + N c(b) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of תִּטְמָאנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, person'; with article, the specific human agent of the final clause.
הַנֹּגַ֖עַתwho touchesart + Qal ptc fsa · נָגַע (H5060)Attributive participle modifying הַנֶּפֶשׁ (feminine agreement)→ Participle: substantival/attributive, feminine — 'the person who touches'נָגַע (H5060) Qal participle, feminine form, agreeing with the grammatically feminine נֶפֶשׁ — 'the person who touches it'.
תִּטְמָ֥אshall be uncleanQal impf 3fs · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (resultative yiqtol), 3fs agreeing with הַנֶּפֶשׁ→ Yiqtol: resultative — final restatement of the transmission principleטָמֵא (H2930) Qal (stative) 'to be unclean'; 3fs form, closing the chapter with the principle restated for the human agent specifically.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional phrase, temporal terminusעַד (H5704) 'until'.
הָעָֽרֶבthe eveningart + N m sg abs · עֶרֶב (H6153)Object of preposition עַד — the chapter's final wordעֶרֶב (H6153) 'evening'; the chapter's very last term — the recurring, almost liturgical closing formula that has structured every impurity-clause throughout, grounding even this paradoxical impurity in the ordinary rhythm of a single day.